Fire extinguisher



April 17, 1945. B. EATON $373,819

FIRE EXTINGUISHER Filed Nov. 24, 1943 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY I Patented Apr. 17, 1 945 v UNITE sT tidTE-NT]OFFICE nlannx'rmotnsnsn v Gama B. Eaton, Ldsnng les i'calie. ,Application November 24, 1943, Serial na's nscr H screams." cries-2&

My invention relates 1 to a 'fire extinguisher which has for its principal object to provide means for automatically extinguishing a' fire' tained in the charge of powder l0. Wires l3 and I4 connect the link I2 in a suitableelectric ciri cuit.

The device shown in Fig. 2 may be connected,

inariy of a variety of circuits. Two such circuits are shown in Figs. 3 and i.

. In Fig. 3, wires 15 connect the elements 6 in series with a suitable source [6 of electricalcurrent. The circuit is completed by a wire I! and convenient in use, easily installed in a working position and easily disconnected therefrom, economical of manufacture, relatively simple, and of general superiority and serviceability.

The invention also comprises novel details of construction and novel combinations and ar rangements of parts, which will more fully appear in the course of the following description. However, the drawing merely shows and the following description merely describes one embodiment of the present invention, which is given by way of illustration or example only. 1

In' the drawing, like reference characters desi nate similar parts in the several views.

Fig. l is a perspective View of a room corner,

showing an embodiment of my invention arranged above combustible material in the'roorn.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal section of an element comprised in the embodiment. I Fig. 3 is a wiring diagram showing such elements, on a reduced scale, connected in series in an electric circuit. I

Fig. 4 is a modified wiring diagram showing the fire extinguishing elements connected in parallel in an electric circuit.

Referring morein detail to the drawing, the reference numeral 5 generally designates a combustible article. curtain, although, of course,'it can be furniture, rugs, or any other combustible article. A fire extinguishing element is shown at 6 above the combustible article.

The extinguishing device comprises a tube 1 of frangible material (such as glass or pla'stic 1 known to those skilled in the art. One such material is known commercially as, Du Gas. A

container or cartridge 9 in the fire extinguish ing powder8 has an explosive charge l0, such as gun powder. A high, resistance, relativelyhigh melting point, conductive link or fuse 12 is con- In this case the article is a' a rheostat I8. Connected in parallel with the series-connected elements 6 is a series of wires l9 and low resistance, low melting point, conductive, fusible links 20. Wire 2lconnects the latter series of wires and links 20 with the wire H.

In Fig. 4, the elements 6 are connected in parallel with each other. Trunk lines 22 and 23 respectively connect with a suitable source 24 of electrical current and with a rheostat 25. Wires 26 and 21 respectively connect the wires l3 and M of the elements 6 with the trunk lines 22 and 23. Wires 28 and 29 respectively connect opposite ends of lowresistance, low melting point, conductive, fusible links 30 with the wires 26 and 21. I

In the operation of my device, a plurality of elements 6 may be placed above combustible material or combustible articles, in order that the fire extinguishing powder 8 in such elements may fall by gravity upon any burning article therebeneath.

The low resistance upon the circuit used: Fig. 3 or 4) arepreferably .disposed adjacent the elements 6 respectively.

In the absence of a fire'in Fig. 3 the electrical current follows a closed circuit as follows: source l6, wires I9 and low resistance links 20, wire 2|, wire l1, rheostat l8 and back to the source. This circuit is effected'by the high resistance of the links [2. When a fire occurs adjacent any of the links 20, such adjacent link is fused, breaking the circuit just described. Thereupon the closed circuitis as follows: 'Source 16, wires [5 and wires I3 and I4 and links or fuses l2 in the cartridges 9, wire ll, rheostat l8 and back to the source. With this latter circuit, the temperature of the links 12 is raised to'the explosion point of the powder 10 in the cartridge, thus exploding the cartridge 9, breaking the frangible tube 1 and causing the fire extinguishing powder to fall uponthe burning article, extinguishing the burning thereof.

In the form shown in Fig. 4, all the cartridges -9 are not exploded if one link 30 is fused. Only the single cartridge adjacent the fused link 30 is exploded. The circuits of the other cartridges,

links 20 or 30 (depending 1 which are connected in parallel with each other, are not disturbed when the fire only melts one of the links 30. Of course, in a general fire, all the links 30 would be fused and all the cartridges 9 in Fig. 4 would be exploded and all the elements 6 in that figure would be broken. The rheostats I8 or 25 may, of course, be adjusted to obtain the proper balance for certain uses of the present system, to avoid operation except in case of fire. While I have illustrated and described what I now regard as th preferred embodiment of my invention, the construction is, of course, subject to modifications Without departing from the spirit wish to restrict myself to the particular form of construction illustrated and described, but desire to avail myself of all modifications that may fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. Fire extinguishing means comprising an electrical circuit, including a low melting point link fusible by heat, a container for a dry fire extinguishing material, an explosive cartridge in said container, means to explode said cartridge, another circuit including said means, a source of electrical energy, said last named circuit being energized to afiect said means when said first and scope of my invention. I, therefore, do not named circuit is interrupted and cause th cartridge to explode, rupture the container and scatter the fire extinguishing material.

2. Fire extinguishing means comprising an electrical circuit including an eutectic link, a container for a dry fire extinguishing material, an

, explosive charge in said material, a firing means for said charge, and a second circuit, including said firing means and energizable upon the breaking of said first circuit to actuate said firing means, explode the charge and'scatter the fire extinguishing material.

3. Fire extinguishing means comprising a first electrical circuit which passes through a, frangible tube filled with dry fire extinguishing material, and explosive cartridge in said tube, a link in said electrical circuit of high resistance and high melting point within said cartridge, a second electrical circuit in parallel with the first circuit, a link of low resistance and low melting point in said second circuit adjacent to the said tube, said link being adapted to melt in case of a fire, thereby causing the high resistance link in the first circuit to explode the cartridge, rupture the tube and scatter the dry fire extinguishing material.

CLARENCE B. EATON. 

